US states face $9bn in transportation funding cuts

09.28.2009

Infrastructure Investor

Infrastructure Investor, in the article "US states face $9bn in transportation funding cuts," examined how the proposed extensions to the transportation authorization could pull money from states through rescission. In discussing the looming rescission of budget authority required by SAFETEA-LU, as well as the proposed extensions of program authority moving forward in the Senate, the article extensively quoted Ed Kussy, former Federal Highway Administration Deputy Chief Counsel. Kussy explained "…the rescission was worked into the bill as a way to get the bill to "score", or cost less. The bill's sponsor, Republican Alaska Representative Don Young, wanted a higher score, while the Bush administration wanted a lower score." The rescission would not take money away from projects they've already contracted out, Kussy explains, but it would crimp their ability to obligate further projects. Kussy said the extensions do not address the rescission, which he believes was meant as an "inducement to make Congress pass the next [transportation reauthorisation] bill on time".

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